Minority voice is one you should always protect: Amal Clooney

New Delhi: Renowned lawyer and activist Amal Clooney on Friday asserted that minority voice should always be protected in a society advocating a free speech.

"The minority voice is the one you should always protect a society that advocates a free speech. Countries must allow criticism of its rulers, governments and religion,” Clooney said addressing a session at India Today Conclave.

"Locking up a dissenter will not stifle dissent. In fact it will fester it further. For India. using sedition law against students would be a step in the wrong direction,” she added.

Clooney added that sedition is an anachronistic crime but it is unfortunate if a country starts using it more actively.

"I hope we could have a healthy debate on the freedom of speech in India since it is well placed for such discussion,” Clooney said insisting free speech is not only a human right but also an essence of being human.

Clooney is a British-Lebanese lawyer, who has fought the case of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, in his fight against extradition. She has also represented the Canadian-Egyptian journalist Mohamed Fahmy who was jailed during the Arab Spring for expressing dissent against the then Egyptian government. She is married to popular Hollywood actor George Clooney.